Show ner Cut i Sports COLLEGE BASKETBALL SPORTS BRIEFS No 24 TCU struggles without top scorer DiMaggio watched erroneous television report of his death the Aesocated Press TULSA Okla - Minus its main man No 24 Texas Chris- n ets ike tian was at a loss against Tulsa Playing without suspended center Lee Nation the Homed Frogs struggled inside Monday 2 night and fell to Tulsa Nailon the Western Athletic Conference’s leading scorer at 227 points per game was penalized for one game for fighting in an overtime loss Saturday to UNLV TCU coach Billy Tubbs said he did not learn of Nailon’s suspension until late in the afternoon u try 72-6- DU ay i sa i “I'm proud of our team” Tubbs said “We came in here and put up a good fight against a good Tulsa team I’ve never had things transpire like has happened over the last several hours It was tough to get focused” Tulsa relied on the shooting of Marcus Hill and Tony Heard and Eric Coley’s acrobatic drives in snapping a three-gam- e losing streak “We didn’t change our philosophy that much knowing that Nailon would not be playing” Tulsa coach Bill Self said “But Billy surprised me tonight and reHe ally played conservatively packed it in there” 3 no sr-- ild lis all iy in rt-- he si all Id ve I rt - DU e- - a ht Dg ze ' to as le DC ce 2d ri al - a - !- i- 1 Shannon Long matched a with 20 points and 1 rebounds and Ryan Carroll scored 15 as TCU stayed close until the final five minutes 1 n- - it- w 26 1998 iy a- ages 199 points and poured in 41 points against UNLV was no five factor with a season-lopoints for TCU He was guarded by Michael Ruffin generally regarded as the WAC’s top post defender ' Tulsa responded by making in the second half The Golden Hurricane had made just 1 in its previous three games two of those losses “We’ve been having trouble with the 3s falling but we shot with confidence and they finally started to go in” Heard said Brandon Kurtz led Tulsa (16-- 5 with 17 points and 12 rebounds Heard and Hill who finished eaclx hit four with 5 points each TCU (15-- 5 was held to its lowest point total since a 4 victory over Tulsa on Feb 57-5- be Connecticut 78 Georgetown 71 No 27 points as the Huskies overcame the scrappy Hoyas The last unbeaten team in Di10-- 0 vision I UConn (18-Big East) faced a stiffer than expected challenge before heading into the toughest part of its schedule Next up for the Huskies are No 9 St John’s No 17 Syracuse and No 3 Stanford has Georgetown 0 lost four of six games since coach Craig Esherick took over following John Thompson's sudden resignation Jan 6 However three of the losses have been by two points or fewer and his Hoyas led the nation’s team 47-4- 1 early in the second half All game long Georgetown tried to knock Hamilton off stride by rotating bodies on him in a physical game Early in the second half Hamilton had the ball stolen from him at midcourt and his layup was blocked by Ruben Boumtje Boumtje about a minute later Then the run started Hamilton made a nice dish to Edmund Saunders for a layup and followed with a couple of jump shots and three free throws as Connecticut built a 63-5- 8 lead with 8:01 to play The Huskies never trailed again Khalid with 2:34 remaining made it an eight-poilead at 5 and a series of free throws secured the win While Hamilton emerged unscathed appeared to hurt a muscle and as he grabbed his left leg in pain and called a timeout late in the game He returned to play the final minute but continued to grab his leg in obvious discomfort 1 said made in Montana State 89 Sacramento State 69 At Sacramento Calif Danny Sprinkle scored 19 points and re- -' serve Justin Brown had 18 as Montana State used accurate shooting to defeat winless Sacramento State 7 Sacramento State (0-1- 7 Big Sky Conference) lost its 34th straight over the past two years The Hornets are closing in on the Division I record of 37 consecutive losses set by the The Citadel from 1954-5- 5 Sacramento State hasn’t won since Dec 13 1997 Both Sprinkle and Brown made four for Montana State (10-- 9 John added 12 points and had 1 1 rebounds for the Bobcats who 2 went ahead at halftime and led by as many as 38 points in the second half Nate Holmstadt (he conferg ence’s scorer had 11 points Sacramento State’s Rene Jacques connected on five in the second half for 5 of his 17 points Sean Flouston 0-- 4-- La-zos- third-leadin- 1 gether’ ” c- watch- - of ip n it- - a id r fi KELLY KERWThe Associated Press FOR TCU: Texas Christian’s Shannon Long (left) is cornered by Tulsa’s Shawn Williams and Eric Coley (right) during Monday night’s Western Athletic Conference basketball game at Tulsa Okla The Golden Hurricane defeated the No 24 Homed Frogs 72-6TROUBLE 2 and Anthony Flood each added 10 points for the Hornets Houston grabbed 13 rebounds The Bobcats put the Hornets away early using a 21-- 1 run to take a 42-1- 2 lead with 6:36 left in the first half Montana State atwhich made tempts in the opening half had five during the streak Women’s AP Top 25 With Long Beach State no longer a national power the Big West Conference doesn’t get much attention in women’s basketball UC Santa Barbara is trying to change that The Gauchos (13-3- ) returned to The Associated Press poll at No 25 on Monday - 10 weeks after falling out They’ve won their last eight games and had victories earlier in the season over Northwestern Drake Vanderbilt and Southern Cal “We’re pleased to be back in the Top 25” coach Mark French said “It’s great to receive national recognition especially at this point in the season” Kansas and Boston College also returned to the poll after being ranked earlier Tennessee meanwhile remained the overwhelming choice for No 1 and was one of just two teams that held the same position as last week The other was Old Dominion which stayed at No 12 Tennessee (17-1- ) received 39 e votes and 1023 of 41 points from a national media panel to lead the poll for the third straight week The Lady Vols beat Old Dominion and Florida last week to run their winning streak to 16 Purdue (16-1- ) Louisiana Tech (15-2- ) and Georgia (18-1- ) held the next three places with Purdue and Louisiana Tech gete vote apiece ting one All three moved up one spot aflost two of ter Connecticut ( three games during the week and fell from second to fifth Colorado State (20-1- ) jumped two places to sixth arid was followed by Notre Dame UCLA Duke and Texas Tech which fell four spots after losing at Kansas the naVirginia Tech (18-0- ) tion’s only unbeaten Division I team climbed two places to 11th Then it was Old Dominion Rutgers North Carolina and Clem-so- n followed by Iowa State Auburn and Tulane Ohio State and Virginia tied for 19th The final five were Penn State Boston College Alabama Kansas and UC Santa Barbara first-plac- first-plac- 1 6-- 3) WAC honors Sasser Wolfram From IB in the put the Utes (15-- 4 driver’s seat in the Western Athletic Conference’s Pacific Divi- DENVER -- Southern 5-- 0) Methodist guard Jeryl Sasser and Texas-E- I Paso forward Brandon Wolfram were named Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball players of the week on Monday Sasser earned the honor for the WAC Mountain Division after averaging 255 points and 1 6 rebounds in victories over UNLV and Air Force Wolfram was named Pacific Division player of the week for his balanced performance against siontwo-gam- natio- le i- le fs it te y u le te Df If a i le P e y It n - ll- is n s d it n e 5 S at home” ‘ Utah which led from the start shft 56 percent as a team outrebounded the BullThanks to Miller’s dogs 34-2- 9 tenacious defense FSU point guard Chris Herren - arguably the league’s second-bepoint guahd behind his counterpart - was held to just st an i 12 New Mexico He 67-4- 1 3-- 2) o scored 1 6 points grabbed nine rebounds and held Lobos center Kenny Thomas to two points in the first half of UTEP’s 9 le two-gam- s then-N- victory DOUGLAS C PIZACThe Associated Press Utah’s Alex Jensen is forced to pass over the top of Fresno State’s Eric Griffin late Monday night at the Huntsman Center in school history with 1 6 points Jensen recorded the third rebounds and 1 0 assists TRIPLE-DOUBL- E: triple-doub- le nine points on shooting Herren also had eight assists but was forced into seven turnovers “The biggest part of the story was our good defense” Majerus said “I mean we had hands up everywhere (The Bulldogs) are tremendous tremendous shoot- ers I never thought I’d say this when we allow the other team to shoot 49 percent but I was really pleased with our defense” Majerus won’t get many arguments from Herren “They played with a lot of intensity” Herren said “They’re a very good basketball team and obvithey’re very well-coach- ously” It was interesting to watch the interaction of Miller and Herren during the game Miller it seems ln8 a tape of ft “Gu"h DiMaggio Utes e They now own a lead over Fresno State New Mexico BYU and UTEP As a side note Monday’s nally-televised win was Utah coach Rick Majerus’ first against Fresno State’s Jerry Tarkanian “I couldn’t be happier” said Majerus normally a pretty tough customer “I’m just so pleased with the effort we got tonight” Effort indeed Jensen recorded his first career triple-doubwith 16 points 10 assists and 1 rebounds Miller wasn’t too far behind with 1 7 points 14 assists six rebounds seven steals and a blocked shot Mottola too was on his game He led the Utes with 20 points plus added four rebounds an assist and a steal Lost in the excitement surrounding Utah’s “Big 3” was the play of junior Tony Harvey who came off the bench to score 19 points was Fresno State (13-- 7 led by guard Courtney Alexander’s' 20 points Terrance Roberson added 14 ” “It was a team effort obviously” Jensen said “It was a huge e win’ Now we’ve got a lead and if you want to win a championship in the WAC you’ve got to win all your games I r - - to- The two id P him I heaven 1 1 never runs too fast or moves too quickly Yet time after time he’d race past Herren for a basket or catch up looking the other way for an easy pass into the middle “Oh he’s very deceptive” said Herren “He’s a great competitor and he just plays so hard” Said Miller: “A lot of times they weren’t ready on end outs and coming off time outs There were a lot of easy passes to be made As soon as I got the ball I’d look to the rim and guys would be there waiting” After Monday’s big win the only thing the Utes are waiting for now is a chance to get back on the court That will happen next Thursday at UTEP and Feb 1 at New Mexico usu team” But Rahe admitted it’s not something Davis or Allick are completely capable of nor or are they entirely comfortable with it either And until that team leader does step forward well all aboard and fasten your seat belts because it appears likely the Aggies will remain on that unpredictable roller-coastride for the rest of the season er Randy Hollis covers Utah State University athletics for the Standard-ExaminHe can be 9 reached at or by email at rhollisfayitandardnet 625-426- he failed a phvical jgreed deal with Monday to a one-vethe Houston Astros Hernandez will begin his third stint with the Astros for whom he last pitched in 19 right-handThe spent last season with the Texas Rangers going 6 with one save and a 357 I RA 1 99-d- McGwire wins St Louis’ Man of the Year award 6-- Angels sign Stankiewicz to minor-leagu- contract e ANAHEIM Calif Infielder Andy Stankiewicz -- who placed with the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks last season agreed Monday to a r-league contract with the Anaheim Angels Stankiewicz 34 previously played for the New S ork Yankees Houston Astros and Montreal Expos He has a 241 batting average in 429 major league games with four homers and 59 RBI s mino- WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Former ABL players hold own salute to defunct league CUPERTINO Calif - A month after their league folded the sense of loss lingers Seeking closure 15 members of the defunct ABL gathered on the basketball court to say goodbye On the day they were supposed to hold their league's game at the San Jose Arena the former ABL players met in a community college gym Sunday to give their final salute to the women's pro basketball league Jennifer Azzi who starred for the San Jose Lasers and helped round up players for Sunday’s hoopSalute game said the healing process continues “I think you still face it It's one thing to lose your ow n job but that’s nothing compared to this because it affects so many people" Azzi said “I find it hard to explain’ to young girls that come to my basketball camp 1 think that's where the real loss is” Players ran through the s and tossed crowd for sneakers to fans during intro- ductions There were more hugs than handshakes on the bench And one of the sang the national anthem The ABL folded suddenly'' three days before Christmas ' amid unpaid bills and an inabil- ity to withstand the challenge of i the rival WNBA all-st- ar high-five- all-sta- rs BOXING: ST LOUIS - This year's St Louis Baseball Man of the Year was a Mark McGwire The home run king wrapping up his first visit to town since hitting No 70 on Sept 27 was honored Monday night by the St Louis chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America Cardinals teammates still are shaking their heads at his accomplishments “That was the most fun year I’ve ever had just being a part of that” pitcher Kent Mercker said “It was a blast and I hope it happens again” McGwire came to town three days before the pope's arrival and seemingly created the same sort of stir During his two-hoautograph session Sunday at the team’s annual winter charity event fans who weren't lucky enough to have won in a raffle for his signature crowded around him just for a glimpse Oakland A’s sign outfielder nt OAKLAND Calif - Free-ageoutfielder Tim Raines the only member of the World Series champion New York Yankees not by the team conhas agreed to a one-yetract with the Oakland Athletnt Moorer faces drunken driving other charges MURFREESBORO - Former Tenn heavyweight champion Michael Moorer faces char- ges of drunken driving and evading arrest after driving his car into a ditch Rutherford County police arrested Moorer 31 of Boca Ra-- " ton Fla early Sunday morning after he crashed his 1997 Mer-cedBenz into a ditch Moorer who lost a title bout to Evander Holyfieldin No- ’ vember 1997 had been visiting with his brother and some friends Police reports show that Moorer became upset while at a bar and drove away Moorer soon struck a guard rail with his car Deputy Brian " Guthrie said he tried to talk to Moorer But the boxer drove away and the deputy followed until Moorer crashed the car into a ditch The deputy reported that he was forced to pull his gun on Moorer who was very angry and did not want to cooperate Two friends finally talked’ Moorer into surrendering A hearing is set for Feb 24 in Rutherford County General Sessions Court es ar From ID and take Saxon’s place “We just don’t have a guy like Marcus Saxon that can take over a game” Rahe said “We’ve talked to Pharoah Davis and Tyrone Allick about taking on that role for our er the OK Cor ral" - DiMaggio’s favorite Western - at the baseball great’s home Sunday They happened to stop the tape just when the report appeared as a "crawl” across the screen during “Dateline NBC” NBC ran another crawl about 20 minutes later saying its previous report was inaccurate The network later said a technician in the New York control room inadvertently sent the item NBC delivered an apology to DiMaggio to Engelberg’s olfice on Monday spokesman Cory Shields said DiMaggio recovering from pneumonia and lung cancer surgery on Oct 2 already was upset by a story in the New York Daily News that described him as bedridden and in grave condition The lead doctor on the team that treated the Hall Famer during his hospital stay disputed the Daily News report “He is progressing nicely since his discharge from Memorial Regional Hospital one week ago” Dr Earl Barron said in a statement to The Associated Press Engelberg who lives next door to DiMaggio and visits him at least once a day called the newspaper report “absurd” “He’s walking He's taking therapy” Engelberg said “And he will be at opening day” Yankees’ owner George Steinbrenner said last week when DiMaggio was discharged from the hospital “Joe will certainly toss out the first ball” The Yankees open their home schedule April 9 with a day game against the Detroit Tigers free-age- with Baltimore was voided after er I said we ’Joe must he in laugh top-rank- 73-6- Mon- day “Then 2-- 8) (9-1- 53-2- At Washington Richard Hamilton got bumped jostled picked rejected and clobbered Fie never got rattled With No 1 Connecticut facing its biggest halftime deficit of the season Hamilton coolly led a 16-- 6 second-hal- f run and scored HOLLYWOOD Fla - Nobody was more surprised than Joe DiMaggio when he saw a television report saying that he had died “He was livid” his lawyer and neighbor Morris Engelbcrg 0 nt 3-- 3) i’s k- Marquise Gainous the junior forward who aver- 4-- ’e Tuesday Jaguar 26 1999 3B ics NHL HOCKEY: Roy signs two-ye$15 million extension DENVER - Patrick Roy ar Raines will get $600000 plus a bonus of $50000 if he is named an All-Sthit 290 in The 109 games with the Yankees 1 4 who won an games last season ar ’AL-reco- rd 1 Braves sign reliever Rocker minor leaguers ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves Monday signed reliever John Rocker and four minor leaguers to one-yecontracts Also signing were lefthander Micah Bowie infielder Wes Helms infielder Mark DeRosa and catcher Pascual Matos left-hand- ar Astros sign Hernandez to contract ld HOUSTON - Reliever Xavier Hernandez whose contract who had the most wins among active NHL goaltenders signed a two-yecontract extension Monday with Colorado cap-- ’ ping six months of negotiations with the Avalanche Roy 33 is in the final year of a contract that will pay him $51 million this season He will earn sea$7 million in the 1999-200- 0 son and $75 million during in 2000-200- 1 He also will receive $500000 on July Roy who ranks fifth in career wins with 394 helped Colorado to the Stanley Cup title after being traded from Montreal midway through the 1995-9- 6 season It was his third championship the first two coming with the Canadiens ar 1 - The Associated Press : |